Rusthall 3-0 Fisher

Saturday 12th March

SCEFL Premier Division

Photo Credit: Ryan Green

Fisher put in an uncharacteristically poor performance on Saturday, as they fell to a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Rusthall. Fisher’s combined nemesis gathered, wind, a bumpy grass surface and an opposition working hard for each other fighting to avoid the drop to result in a performance a million miles away from the one that saw the side go toe to toe with tittle aspirants Sheppey United just ten days ago.

Winning the toss captain a Luke Thomas opted to switch ends seeing Fisher giving up the advantage of the wind and slope in the first forty five minutes – a decision that was to set to tone for the game as by the time the second spell arrived the wind had dropped considerable and the game was already lost.

Fisher made the a bright enough start in the opening few minutes with much of the play in the Rusthall half but that all changed on six minutes when a carelessly conceded free kick was conceded midway in the Fisher half and whilst the delivery held a little in the wind there were no excuses for the poor marking that allowed James White a free header to nod past Tommy Taylor and give the host a lead.

Fisher looked to strike back quickly and a promising run from Darnelle Bailey-King saw him upended on the edge of the box but rather than shooting with the wind and bumpy pitch likely to make it difficult for keepers, Fisher sent over a harmless out-swinging deep cross

Minutes later Rusthall showed how to take advantage of a dead ball after a rather cheap foul was awarded just outside the area. The free kick hung just inside the six yard box and as Taylor tried to come to bunch his way was blocked by Fisher defenders who were all unable to get ahead to the ball and within the melee Callum Taylor got the touch that lofted it over Taylor and into the empty net.

Former Fish, Louie Clarke playing up top for the hosts gave his usual display looking to run in into through ball as and Taylor had to be alert as a sweeper keeper on several occasions. Clarke finally got his goal in less characteristic style turning easily in the box when given far too much space and firing home with no one within blocking distance to make it three nil on the half hour.

It could have got worse as a header from another free kick looped just over the crossbar and shortly before half time with Fisher heads gone, seeing Fitzgerald and de Brito Moco boked and penalty was needlessly conceded. Another former Fish took the resulting spot kick but Taylor guessed correctly and diving to his right made a blocked save.

With the wind and slope now in their favour Fisher would need an early goal if they were to try and get anything from the game and Katonia was introduced for De Brito Moco in an attempt to and more forward thrust. However the players got more involved in questioning some albeit curious decisions over free kicks in harmless areas and bar a few in-swinging corners gad the Rusthall defence scrambling to clear, one of which glanced the cross bar the goal never arrived. Fidan Fejzi was introduced for Shoderu and quickly picked up a yellow card and was fortunate to not receive a second one for a clumsy jump at a loose ball – the referee probably correctly taking into account the difficult bounce of the ball rather than intent being the factor, with Bailey-King booked for the melee that followed.

Salgado entered the fray for Luzolo allowing Bailey King to lead the line and whilst Fisher were on the attack for large parts of the second spell they never really made an opening in a resolute Rusthall back line and the only chance of note came when Tommy Taylor sent in a long free kick and Sam Fitzgerald’s flick found no one gambling when the keeper fumbled and the ball was easily cleared.

The last chance fell to Rusthall who could have added a fourth when Clarke broke free but he shot wide – it wouldn’t have flattered the hosts to have added the fourth.

A bad day at the office but the side will be eager to make amends back on the preferred surface on Tuesday night when Kennington are the visitors.

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